Newcastle are entertained on Sunday afternoon by Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium at 1pm. Sitting 9th in the table, Newcastle cannot climb the table any further with a win over the Latics but it could cement their place in the top half and pull them ever closer to the hotly contested UEFA Cup spots.

Wigan currently sit 17th in the table and on the brink of the relegation zone. Their nearest rivals are 4th points away and anything less than a win against Newcastle, could seal their fate in the relegation scrap fight as the season draws ever closer to a close.

Newcastle on the other hand see Europe as a realistic opportunity but defeat against Wigan could damage those hopes severely and their chances of anything but an Intertoto Cup spot could be very low.

Newcastle (from): Given, Harper, Srnicek, Solano, Babayaro, Taylor, Bramble, Onyewu, Moore, Huntington, Butt, Parker, Milner, Duff, N’Zogbia, Pattison, Martins, Dyer, Sibierski, Luque, Carroll, LuaLua.

Wigan (from): Filan, Jackson, Kilbane, McCulloch, Boyce, Skoko, Hall, Johansson, Landzaat, Baines, Granqvist, Haestad, Valencia, Folan, Unsworth, Taylor, Cywka, Aghahowa, Heskey, Baines, Nash.

Newcastle’s Scott Parker is most likely to return to the side on Sunday after missing out midweek with a hamstring problem while Antoine Sibierski (hamstring) could return and Oguchi Onyewu will come back into contention after being ineligible to play in the UEFA Cup.

For Wigan, Caleb Folan should be fit to regain his place in the side despite picking up an ankle injury against Watford a few days ago. Fitz Hall however won’t play after Paul Jewell failed with his appeal against the defender’s red card last week.

Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder:

“Obafemi Martins has been a terrific buy, I feel whatever he achieves this year will be a bonus.

“Next year after he has had a full season with us and we have Michael Owen and Shola Ameobi fit and new signings, he will take off in a big way.

“Week by week, Oba is building a big reputation as a striker to fear.”

Wigan forward Caleb Folan:

“We played with real passion against Watford and we need to reproduce that against Newcastle.

“I also think the fans can make a big difference for us and I hope they get behind us in the same way as they did at Vicarage Road.

“They were magnificent against Watford and cheered us on all the way.”

BBC Sport’s Mark Lawrenson:

Wigan arrested their slide when they beat Portsmouth and although they were desperately unlucky at Arsenal, the ball is just starting to run for them now, especially as they are getting players back.

Newcastle’s problem away from home is that they allow teams to dictate to them easier than they should.

Prediction: 2-0

SkySports.com:

Newcastle to heap more woe on Wigan.

Prediction: 1-2
Player to watch: Oguchi Onyewu

Shay Given

Nolberto Solano
Oguchi Onyewu
Titus Bramble
Celestine Babayaro

James Milner
Nicky Butt
Scott Parker
Damien Duff

Obafemi Martins
Kieron Dyer

I think this is Newcastle’s to win. Although Wigan need the points more, Newcastle have been picking up a few results recently and a win over Liverpool a couple of weeks ago may give them the confidence to pull it off for the first time at the JJB.

I’m going to say 2-1 Newcastle with Martins and Milner getting the Magpie’s goals.